Kylee's 1st Chapter Book

There was no way I was going to miss this picture. Kylee is reading her first chapter book. She is a great reader, but has been intimidated by them for a long time. She read it and loved it and wants to read more in the same series. Yippee!!!!

A Birthday Surprise

The last few months Matt and I have been talking about getting a new van. Our old one is getting up there in miles and as you all know now is a great time to buy. I kept putting Matt off and telling him we could wait awhile longer, however, he did not feel the same. We decided to kindof celebrate my birthday on Saturday, February 28. Well, on that Saturday the kids got up around 6:30--not my idea of an ideal Saturday morning "sleep in." We got up and started breakfast and I opened a CD that said try me in the van. So I went out to our garage and to my "surprise" this new van was sitting there. All I could say was WOW. Tucker said I just kept saying Wow. It is the nicest vehicle that we have ever had or probably will ever have. Thanks sweetie. The big tag says TO: the Birthday Girl FROM: the Bank (ha ha). I hope Matt doesn't get his hopes up for a new truck for his birthday next month.

Abby's Many Faces

Abby sure adds a lot of excitement to our family. She has such a bubbly personality and is the icing on the cake in our family. She makes us laugh and love life. Above she is with her cousin Ana. We did their hair the same and to me this sure makes them look a lot a like. Below Abby is in her dress that I made. Yes, that is amazing! I even made Kylee a matching one.

Tucker and Ty Basketball

Tucker and Ty with their basketball teams this year! They both played really hard. Tucker's team never lost a game and Ty's team finally won their "last" game of the season.

My Intelligent Daughter

We have had problems with our laundry room light going out on us which has made doing laundry a real chore. This is Jaimee, who by the way does all her laundry (way to go Jaimee) using her resources by putting on her Dad's head lamp so she can see what she is doing. When I saw her, both her and I bust out laughing. She was so cute that I had to snap a picture.

Kylee's 7th birthday

Kylee with her ducky bath tub cake for her 7th birthday.

Kylee with Grandma and Grandpa Berrett and Abby. They bought her a purse for her birthday and this big lion for being so brave at school. She struggled starting first grade and said the worst thing about school was recess. It about broke my heart, but she is feeling more comfortable now and has made some friends. The lion was a great idea because Kylee had to try really hard to like school and be positive to earn the lion. Now if you ask her if she likes school she will give you a shy little grin and say yes!

Kylee with her Grandma D. Grandma gave her a Webkinz which she loves and takes such good care of on the computer. What a great pet to have!

Oh, what do you do in the Winter Time?

Tucker and Ty hanging out in the snow cave.

Our gorgeous Jaimee who is growing up too fast! She has been anxious for the snow to melt so she could start running track as an 8th grader at Rigby Junior High.

This is all of us in the entry to our snow cave. Matt and the boys, actually mostly Matt, got a pretty good workout this winter when they were building this snow cave. It was a circular snow cave and the kids thought it was pretty awesome. The boys all wanted to sleep in it, however, by the time they got around to doing so, it had somewhat melted.


Abby sliding down by our snow cave. She is very ready for summer. The other day she came in the house after having been playing outside on a pretty cold day and she said, "I'm not going outside again until summer!" I echo Abby's words--the weather just seems to go right through me and I am cold all the time--just like my own mother. I remember Mom saying why do we live in Idaho? I now find myself saying the same thing.